For immediate release
August 5, 2010

All MPs, Senators and Opposition Leaders’ Exempt Staff to be subject to Lobbying Act

Ottawa – The Honourable Stockwell Day, President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, accompanied by Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, today announced Government of Canada action to further increase transparency in Ottawa by proposing to extend the rules of the Lobbying Act to all members of Parliament, senators and senior staff in the offices of the Leader of the Opposition, both in the House of Commons and the Senate. Under the proposed regulations, these parliamentarians and senior staff personnel would be added to the current list of designated public office holders.

“It is only right that the activities of all those who represent Canadians in Parliament be as open and transparent as possible,” said Minister Day. “That is why we are proposing to expand the scope of the Lobbying Act so that all members of Parliament, senators and exempt staff in the offices of the Leader of the Opposition would be subject to the same requirements already placed on ministers, their exempt staff and senior public servants.”

With the proposed changes, these individuals would be subject to the prohibitions on lobbying and requirements for reporting by lobbyists set out in the Lobbying Act, which states that:

* Designated public office holders are prohibited from registering and lobbying the Government of Canada for five years after leaving office; and
* Lobbyists must disclose their lobbying activities to the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying, including contact with designated public office holders for the purposes of lobbying. This information is publicly available on the website of the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying (http://ocl-cal.gc.ca).

“By proposing to expand the scope of the Lobbying Act, our Government is continuing our action to ensure Parliament is accountable to Canadians and not to special interest groups,” said Senator Boisvenu.

The proposed regulations will be available on the Canada Gazette website at www.canadagazette.gc.ca on August 7, 2010. Canadians will then have 30 days to submit their comments to the Treasury Board Secretariat. The Government will then finalize the regulations and publish them in the Canada Gazette (Part II).

Under the Lobbying Act, lobbying is communication by an individual who is paid to communicate with a Designated Public Office Holder on behalf of a person or organization in relation to:

* the development, introduction or amendment of a bill, resolution, regulation, policy or program;
* the awarding of a grant, contribution or any other financial benefit; and
* in the case of a consultant lobbyist, the awarding of any contract or the arranging of a meeting with a public office holder.

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For more information, contact:

Mélisa Leclerc
Director of Communications
Office of the President of the Treasury Board and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway
613-952-5051

Media Relations
Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat
613-957-2640

If there is a discrepancy between any printed version and the electronic version of this news release, the electronic version will prevail.

TTY (Telecommunications device for the hearing impaired) – (613) 957-9090

Public Input Invited on Proposed Changes to Three Yukon Acts Important to Businesses, Societies & Cooperative Associations

Highlights of the proposed changes include updating business naming provisions, creating limited liability partnerships, adding registration procedures for societies incorporated outside of Yukon and clarifying registration procedures for cooperatives incorporated outside of Yukon.

Together with the Securities Transfer Act and proposed changes to the Business Corporations Act, these proposed amendments will provide Yukon with modern legislation that will better serve Yukon citizens and the organizations governed by business-related legislation.

To view the existing acts, plain language guides and the draft legislation, please see below.

1. The Partnership and Business Names Act governs partnerships and regulates the use of business names in Yukon.

Plain Language Guide to the Proposed Changes

Draft Act to Amend the Partnership and Business Names Act

2. The Societies Act governs “not for profit” organizations in Yukon.

Plain Language Guide to the Proposed Changes

Draft Act to Amend the Societies Act

3. The Cooperative Associations Act governs cooperative associations in Yukon.

Plain Language Guide to the Proposed Changes

Draft Act to Amend the Cooperative Associations Act

To submit comments, please contact Fred Pretorius, Director of Corporate Affairs at Community Services by email: corporateaffairs@gov.yk.ca, Fax: 867-393-6251 or phone: 667-5223, or toll free in Yukon at 1-800-661-0408 ext. 5223

Written comments are invited until August 13, 2010

VICTORIA – A final consultation stage in major reforms to replace B.C.’s Family Relations Act was announced today by Attorney General Michael de Jong, QC, with release of a white paper containing draft legislation and policy proposals.

“Family law touches more British Columbians than any other type of law. Changes to an area of law that has such profound impacts on families and children must not be made lightly,” de Jong said. “We have reached this stage after a comprehensive review of the family law – the first since the Family Relations Act came into force over 30 years ago. The review included extensive research and broad consultation with the public, the legal community and agencies that serve families.”

“What we heard throughout is that the legislation has to better address the unique needs of families. A fundamental shift is needed that encourages and assists parents and spouses to resolve disputes co-operatively where appropriate, with courts being a valued, but last resort.”

Government proposes to modernize and improve the legislation to reflect changes in attitudes towards parenting arrangements, and in how families and the justice system resolve family law issues. The proposed legislation will be clearer and easier to understand. It is more explicit about processes for resolving family matters outside of court and provides for improved tools to better manage cases that reach the courts.

Groups and individuals have until Oct. 8, 2010 to give their final comments on the proposed legislation, at: www.ag.gov.bc.ca/legislation. Feedback will be considered in finalizing the new family law.

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VICTORIA – Cabinet has given the green light to move forward with implementing the 31 Local Government Elections Task Force recommendations for improving local elections, announced Minister of Community and Rural Development Ben Stewart.

“The Province is now in a position to proceed with drafting the legislation necessary to implement the recommendations,” said Stewart. “We expect the legislation to be introduced next spring, in time for the local elections in November 2011. There is a lot of hard work ahead to flesh out the details of the recommendations, such as how to establish expense limits that will work in B.C.’s diverse communities, but we’re confident the end result will have a positive impact on the elections process.”

“UBCM’s task force representatives relied heavily on the local election policies that have been endorsed by our membership in recent years,” said UBCM president Harry Nyce. “We look forward to discussing the task force report with our members during a special policy session at our annual convention in September.”

Premier Gordon Campbell announced the joint provincial-UBCM Local Government Elections Task Force at the 2009 Union of B.C. Municipalities Convention. In a final report submitted on May 28, 2010, the task force outlined 31 recommendations for improving local government elections by ensuring accountability, enhancing transparency, strengthening compliance and enforcement, increasing accessibility, and expanding education and advice.

To read the full report, go to www.localelectionstaskforce.gov.bc.ca.

New green procurement practices support Climate Change Action Plan

WHITEHORSE – The Government of Yukon is supporting its Climate Change Action Plan to reduce greenhouse gases by adopting a green procurement policy that will change how the government makes purchasing decisions for goods, construction and services.

The new green procurement policy is a basis for the government to consider environmental performance when making purchases. Most Canadian manufacturers are adding green products and Yukon suppliers will be consulted before new standards are adopted. The standards will, where practical, address the cradle to grave life cycle of goods, which considers the use of raw materials for development to final disposal.

“This initiative is part of a coordinated approach to addressing climate change,” Highways and Public Works Minister Archie Lang said. “The green procurement policy outlines how standards affecting purchasing practices will be adopted and provides a framework for ‘greening government purchasing decisions’ while ensuring a fair and competitive environment for suppliers.”

The Department of Highways and Public Works is home to the Fleet Vehicles branch and has already adopted the Total Cost of Ownership model for its vehicles, which considers fuel consumption in the procurement decision. The department’s Supply Services branch already purchases:

• photocopiers that may contain recycled components;
• office and school supplies with high recycled content;
• computer equipment meeting the highest standards for energy efficiency; and
• janitorial products packaged in bulk, instead of consumer size, to reduce waste.

Supply Services currently specifies products that meet standards set by recognized certification agencies including Energy Star® for appliances, EPEAT® for computer equipment, and EcoLogo™ and Green Seal® for janitorial products.

Improving energy and water efficiency, reuse and recycling and the use of renewable resources in government offices are all part of “greening” government operations. These actions will help the government implement the Climate Change Action Plan.

For more information about Highways and Public Works visit www.hpw.gov.yk.ca.
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Review of Management of Property Tax Exemptions, Abatements, Discounts and Penalties in Relation to Education Property Tax

		Discussion Paper: Review of Management of Property Tax Exemptions, Abatements, Discounts and Penalties in Relation to Education Property Tax (PDF 153 KB)

Electronic waste will be diverted from landfill sites in Prince Edward Island with the introduction of a new province-wide recycling program starting July 1, 2010, said Environment, Energy and Forestry Minister Richard Brown.

Government has accepted a plan from Atlantic Canada Electronics Stewardship (ACES), an industry organization representing electronics manufacturers, distributors and other stakeholders, to manage a recycling program, said Minister Brown.

“There is growing public awareness about the risks to human health and the environment from dumping products that contain toxic chemicals into our landfill sites,” said Minister Brown. “Government is creating alternatives that will benefit our environment and our Island community.”

ACES has operated a similar Electronics Recycling Program in Nova Scotia since 2008.

“As an industry-led, non-profit association, ACES is looking forward to providing a responsible electronics recycling program for residents of Prince Edward Island,” said Gerard MacLellan, Executive Director of ACES. “We’re committed to working closely with the Government of PEI and Island Waste Management Corporation to ensure unwanted electronics are diverted from landfills and recycled responsibly.”

The new program will address the growing environmental problem of electronic waste in PEI’s solid waste system.

“I think most Islanders would be shocked to know that 700 metric tonnes of electronics are disposed of each year in local landfills,” said Minister Brown. “Implementing this new program will send a strong message about the responsibility we all have to protect the environment.”

The ACES program is not funded by government but through an environmental handling fee paid by consumers and producers of electronics products.

A fee will be applied to the purchase of new electronic products to assist with the cost of the recycling program. The fees will vary from 40 cents for digital cameras, $2.10 for laptop computers and $10.50 for desktop computers.

Products that can be recycled include computers, televisions, portable stereos and CD players, VCRs and DVD players, and non-cellular telephones. These products will no longer be accepted in residential solid waste carts or commercial waste collections.

ACES will work with Island Waste Management Corporation to set up convenient drop-off locations across the province. IWMC will publicize details within the next week. Information about the ACES PEI launch is available at www.acestewardship.ca.

“I am pleased to see industry accept responsibility for the management of this new electronics recycling plan and I would like to thank them for their leadership on this project,” said Minister Brown.

Finance Minister takes key step in establishing a Canadian Securities Regulator

Related Documents:

• Backgrounder
• Fact sheet – Proposed Canadian Securities Act
• Fact sheet – Constitutional Reference
• Proposed Canadian Securities Act

Reflecting the Government’s willingness to work collaboratively with provinces and territories, this is a voluntary regime, which enables provinces and territories to opt in at their choice.

The proposed Act reflects the input of 10 participating provinces and territories, and the Government invites the remaining provinces to join the initiative.

“Canadians, who rely on capital markets for their savings and retirement plans, deserve the protection of strong regulation that reaches all parts of our country,” said the Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance. “The proposed Act we have released today brings us closer to the regime that markets demand and that Canadian investors need.”

As Canada’s performance during the global financial crisis demonstrated, our financial regulatory regime is a sound model for other countries.  However, Canada is the only major industrialized country that lacks a national securities regulator.  Our financial system can be strengthened by the establishment of a national securities regulator to oversee Canada’s capital markets.  This step will strengthen the stability, integrity and effectiveness of the Canadian financial system.

The proposed regime will provide:

• better and more consistent protection for investors across Canada;
• improved regulatory and criminal enforcement to better fight securities-related crime;
• new tools to better support the stability of the Canadian financial system;
• faster policy responses to emerging market trends;
• simpler processes for businesses, resulting in lower costs for investors; and
• more effective international representation and influence for Canada.

The proposed Canadian Securities Act is built on provincial securities regulation and harmonizes existing legislation in the form of a single statute.  It benefits from the work of the Expert Panel on Securities Regulation (the Hockin Panel) and other reform efforts, and reflects domestic and international best practices.  It proposes significant improvements in terms of governance, adjudication, financial stability, and regulatory and criminal enforcement, and provides a wide scope of authority to regulate financial instruments and participants in capital markets.

“The Canadian Securities Transition Office led the work on the proposed Canadian Securities Act in consultation with participating provinces and territories and key stakeholders,” said Minister Flaherty. “I would like to recognize its Chair, Doug Hyndman, its Vice-Chair, Bryan Davies, and the Executive Vice-President and Senior Policy Advisor, Larry Ritchie, for their hard work over many months. I would also like to acknowledge the important contributions of the members of the advisory committee of the 10 participating provinces and territories and their regulators and governments.” These provinces and territories are British Columbia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon and Nunavut.

The new regulator will take advantage of the expertise and infrastructure of participating provinces and territories. The organization will be an agency with a strong network of local offices whose staff members are authorized and empowered to make key decisions that reflect local market demands.

The Transition Office will release a detailed transition plan during the summer to help ensure a smooth and orderly transition.

Concurrent with releasing the proposed Canadian Securities Act, the Government has referred the proposed Act to the Supreme Court of Canada for its opinion on the following question: Is the annexed proposed Canadian Securities Act within the legislative authority of the Parliament of Canada?

“The opinion will provide legal certainty to all provinces, territories and market participants,” said the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.

Should a favourable ruling be received from the Supreme Court of Canada, the Government of Canada intends to introduce for adoption in Parliament a Securities Act, which would then go through the normal parliamentary legislative process.